No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#994 | Ed and Jamie discuss how English football’s huge revenues still produce widespread losses, driven by an arms race in wages and transfer fees. They compare crises elsewhere (French TV rights falling about 80% amid PSG’s dominance and conflicts of interest) and note the growth of multi-club ownership and private equity, including Sixth Street’s move into Sunderland Women and the broader rise of MCOs. Reviewing 2024/25 accounts, they highlight Chelsea’s staggering losses (about £262m pre-tax and cited as closer to £350m for UEFA), reliance on self-deals, and the difficulty of reaching UEFA break-even targets. Arsenal are financially solid but with limited headroom; Liverpool’s big summer spend raises future squad-cost risks; City is discussed cautiously pending the 115 charges. They cover Premier League–EFL revenue-sharing tensions and the limits of new squad-cost rules and an independent regulator and touch on Newcastle’s stadium sale, Spurs’ rising costs, Villa’s UEFA constraints, and FIFA World Cup ticket pricing controversies in the US.

00:00 Intro 

00:30 Liverpool/PSG

02:50 French Football Crisis

05:51 MCOs, Private Equity and Women's Football

08:11 Premier League Club Finances Overview

15:08 Arsenal and Liverpool

21:31 PSR & Squad Cost Rules

25:38 EFL Revenue Sharing & Sustainability

35:51 Man City and 115 Charges

39:31 Tottenham and Aston Villa

46:42 World Cup 2026: Tickets, Costs & FIFA

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.

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#993 | United Return After 24-Day Break: Ed and Wayne can’t wait to get into the football. Does the extended layoff leave United undercooked despite positive reports from a training trip to Dublin and an improving injury situation? With Harry Maguire suspended, Lisandro Martinez’ potential return can’t come at a better time. Meanwhile low-scoring Leeds arrive at Old Trafford in high spirits after an FA Cup win, but in poor form overall.

Victory for United will strengthen the team’s hunt for a Champions League place and leave Leeds deep in a relegation battle. Seven games to go, five places in Europe up for grabs. Surely United are nearly there.

00:00 Introduction: The 24-Day Wait

03:41 Champions League Race

04:55 Liverpool, Chelsea and Rivals Failing

12:19 Leeds Preview

24:38 Bielsa's Legacy and Daniel Farke

28:22 Michael Carrick's Record

37:03 Carrick vs. Previous Managers

44:58 Harry Maguire's New Contract

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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From NQAT Extra. Rebroadcasting for everyone given that Harry Maguire has signed a new contract and Mainoo's new deal is very close!

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Ed and Dominic discuss reports that Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are close to signing new contracts. It's an important step both for squad depth ahead of likely European football and a heavier schedule, and in retaining key local talent.

Maguire will stay on a shorter, lower-value deal - a sensible move given injuries across United’s centre-backs, his reliability, experience, and suitability as a squad option. For Mainoo, his low wages are an issue, as is his strong leverage due to United’s thin midfield and planned departures. The club needs to fix its wage structure while keeping a key academy figure. More broadly, United’s financial and squad-building strategy under Ratcliffe and concerns about readiness for a 60-game season are discussed.

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Harry Maguire's New Contract

01:46 Maguire's Character

04:38 The 2019 Transfer Market Context

06:15 Maguire Under Different Managers

12:45 Kobbie Mainoo's Contract Situation

20:08 United's Financial Strategy

28:46 Looking Ahead

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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#992 | Ed and Tom fill the long international and FA Cup break by running through United players on international duty and broader World Cup qualifying storylines, including England experiments under Thomas Tuchel. Maguire and Mainoo featured, there's notes on Portugal, with Bruno’s backheeled assist a hightlight, Brazil featured Casemiro’s return and Senne Lemmens played for Belgium.

United announce friendlies in Helsinki, Stockholm, Gothenburg), Dublin and Wrocław. Then there's is a reflection on United Women’s recent slump, squad depth, poor crowds. Recorded before United took on Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

02:58 Home Nations World Cup Qualification

03:16 England Players: Maguire, Mainoo and Rashford

05:04 Mainoo and Elliot Anderson Partnership

08:27 England's Attacking Concerns

16:25 World Cup Access and Travel Bans

18:00 Portugal and Brazil Internationals

22:53 World Cup Groups

28:16 United Summer Preseason Friendlies

34:18 Loan Players

37:03 United Women

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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#991 | Ed sits down with George Baker to check in on FC United’s progress this season. The club is top of the Northern Premier League in a tight title race with Hednesford and Hebburn. Ed and George talk about the run-in, progress that has been made this season, and how the club remains the antidote to commercialisation in the Premier League.

00:00 Introduction

00:27 Season to Date

07:00 Key Players and the Manager

10:30 The Title Race and Run-In

13:39 Easter Monday: The Big Decider

15:36 Non-League Growth, Manchester United's Failings

16:42 Fan Ownership vs. Football Corruption

34:18 Non-League Football's Global Rise

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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